CENTENARIAN Peggy Sadler from St Margaret’s Road, Altrincham, has been involved with St Margaret’s Church in Altrincham for 60 years.

Recently, members of its Ladies Fellowship presented her with a plant to mark her 100th birthday which she celebrated with a family party on Christmas Eve.

Altrincham resident Peggy believes church services have changed since the early days.

“Now the service is not as stereotyped. It is more spontaneous.”

Peggy still attends a knitting group and is busily working on a cot blanket for a premature baby.

She is very positive about modern life:

“I think the world has changed for the better. People nowadays are more conscious of the needs of others.

“To-day’s children have a better background of knowledge because of television and computers.

“I know nothing about computers.”

Peggy, who had a happy childhood, attended primary school in Winsford and then the mixed Winsford Grammar School,

“We had a headmaster and a headmistress. They were very strict.”

Peggy left school at 17 and became a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

She gave up work to marry Tom when she was 22 and they were together for 72 years. Their daughter, Christine, organised the party.

While Tom was away fighting in the war, Peggy helped at a SSAFA nursery for the children of lone mothers.

“I loved it,” she said

More recently she has been a member of the League of Friends of Altrincham Hospital and a room watcher at Dunham Hall.

She believes the secret of a long life is exercise.

“I am a great believer in walking. I have never driven a car and still walk into Altrincham,” she said.